Desktop 3D printer manufacturer Anycubic has unveiled plans to roll-out a uniquely portable system that folds into a suit case-like package for manufacturing on the move.
Designed for 3D printing anytime, anywhere, Anycubic’s as-yet-untitled machine features multi-axis arms that allow it to stop, print in any position, and create objects up to 460mm tall.
Folding down to just 75mm in height, the device is also said to be ultra-mobile, making it ideal for makers, designers, and engineers to prototype and create models in any environment.
Foldable printing: What we know so far
Anycubic hasn’t revealed any details about the system itself – what little information exists, we know thanks to the iF Design Award it won earlier this year. According to the award organizers, the machine has been built to “solve the issue of large, cumbersome printers.”
From the concept images, we can tell that the machine features a gray-ish color scheme with what appears to be a standard glass build plate. Similarly, the nozzle seems fairly standard issue, suggesting that users will be able to print with common materials like PLA and ABS.
It also boasts an LCD screen, USB & HDMI ports, and built-in cooling fans, but the real innovation here likes in the device’s foldability. Anycubic’s machine is designed to fold neatly into a compartment in its base, allowing it to be carried wherever it’s needed.
This could make it ideal for makers that regularly move between their home and workshop. It could even find more advanced engineering applications – after all, 460mm is not too shabby as print capacities go. But before potential customers get too excited, Anycubic hasn’t announced an official release date just yet.
The iF Design website suggests that the device is still under development and lists “after 2025” as the date of launch. So we may have to wait a little longer to see it in-person.
Not that much of a novelty?
Skeptics of the idea might argue that compact, versatile 3D printing is already a thing. After all, desktop devices are usually small, lightweight, and sometimes even self-assembly.
Take the ever-popular Creality Ender-3 V3 SE, it’s modular, easy to assemble design continues to resonate with makers everywhere. You could also look back to machines like the Weedo TINA25 and JGMaker Artist-D Pro as predecessors to Anycubic’s system. These may not have been fully foldable per se, but included foldable elements for ease of transportation.
We’ll likely get a better idea of Anycubic’s upcoming machine in the near future. If you can’t wait until it hits the market, our best 3D printer guide is here to help, and provide you with alternative ideas for modular desktop manufacturing.
